5G systems have started field trials, and deployment plans are being formulated, following completion of comprehensive standardization efforts and the introduction of multiple technological innovations for improving data rates and latency. Similar to earlier terrestrial wireless technologies, build-out of 5G systems will occur initially in higher population density areas offering the best business cases while not fully addressing airborne and marine applications. Satellite communications will thus continue to be indispensable as part of an integrated 5G/satellite architecture to achieve truly universal coverage. Such a unified architecture across terrestrial and satellite wireless technologies can ensure global service, support innovative 5G use cases, and reduce both capital investments and operational costs through efficiencies in network infrastructure deployment and spectrum utilization. This article presents an architectural framework based on a layered approach comprising network, data link, and physical layers together with a multimode user terminal. The network layer uses off-the-shelf building blocks based on 4G and 5G industry standards. The data link layer benefits from dynamic sharing of resources across multiple systems, enabled by intersystem knowledge of estimated and actual traffic demands, RF situational awareness, and resource availability. Communication resource sharing has traditionally comprised time, frequency, and power dimensions. Sharing can be enhanced by leveraging dynamic knowledge of communication platform location, trajectory, and antenna directivity. Logically centralized resource management provides a scalable approach for better utilization of spectrum, especially in higher bands that have traditionally been used by satellites and now are also being proposed for 5G systems. Resource sharing maximizes the utility of a multimode terminal that can access satellite or terrestrial RF links based on specific use cases, traffic demand, and QoS requirements.

中文翻译：

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统一 5G 和下一代卫星通信的框架


5G系统已开始外场试验，部署计划正在制定中，全面标准化工作已完成，并引入多项技术创新来提高数据速率和时延。与早期的地面无线技术类似，5G 系统的建设最初将在人口密度较高的地区进行，提供最佳的业务案例，但不能完全解决机载和海洋应用问题。因此，卫星通信将继续成为集成 5G/卫星架构的一部分，以实现真正的普遍覆盖。这种跨越地面和卫星无线技术的统一架构可以确保全球服务，支持创新的 5G 使用案例，并通过提高网络基础设施部署和频谱利用率来减少资本投资和运营成本。本文提出了一个基于分层方法的架构框架，包括网络、数据链路、物理层以及多模式用户终端。网络层使用基于 4G 和 5G 行业标准的现成构建块。数据链路层受益于跨多个系统的动态资源共享，这得益于估计和实际流量需求、射频态势感知和资源可用性的系统间知识。传统上，通信资源共享包括时间、频率和功率维度。通过利用通信平台位置、轨迹和天线方向性的动态知识可以增强共享。 逻辑上集中的资源管理提供了一种可扩展的方法，可以更好地利用频谱，特别是传统上由卫星使用、现在也被提议用于 5G 系统的更高频段。资源共享最大限度地提高了多模终端的效用，该终端可以根据特定用例、流量需求和 QoS 要求访问卫星或地面射频链路。